High interest payday loans can trash your finances - not to mention waste your hard earned money. Saving the fee on a $300 payday loan for six months, for example, can help you create a buffer against financial emergencies. This service does not constitute an offer or solicitation for payday loans in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, or West Virginia.

Theoretically, they could use their preexisting branches, mitigating the overhead costs that affect payday stores and hence enabling profitable lending at a much lower rate. The transfer of property after your death won't trigger the Bureau's ability-to-repay rule, making it easier for your heirs to pay off your loan or refinance.

But payday loans can lead to a vicious cycle where you need to re-up over and over again. Belinda Cinque, the hot-check clerk for Justice of the Peace Tom Lawrence in the Houston suburb of Humble, said she has little choice but to take payday lenders' criminal complaints.

Ham recognized a key truth about small, short-term loans: They are expensive for lenders to make. Using a debt settlement or loan consolidation company will significantly affect your credit. Since unsecured loans have no collateral to back them up, amounts may not be as generous as secured loans.

Today's episode was produced by Christopher Werth�The rest of our staff includes Arwa Gunja , Jay Cowit , Merritt Jacob , Greg Rosalsky , Kasia Mychajlowycz , Alison Hockenberry and Caroline English�Thanks also to Bill Healy for his help with this episode from Chicago.